Viso and Spyker MF1

The third Midland F1 has been a bit of a rent-a-car this year with a series of different youngsters having a go in the car. Giorgio Mondini has appeared nine times, Markus Winkelhock four and Adrian Sutil twice. Now it seems the team is close to doing a deal that will see 21-year-old Venezuelan Ernesto Viso in the third car for the final race of the year in Brazil. Viso has been driving this year with the iSport International team in GP2 and has won two races, albeit on Sundays when the top eight positions in Saturday's race are reversed for the grid, thus creating the opportunity for midfield runners to have a moment of glory.

The Venezuelan is flying to Britain today and is expected to test at Silverstone on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to do the mileage necessary to be granted a Superlicence. Visa has never raced at Interlagos, except on the kart track at the facility, but comes with support from a variety of private and public Venezuelan companies including the national oil company and the federal bank.

The only Venezuelan to have competed on a regular basis in F1 was Johnny Cecotto, who raced for Theodore and Toleman in the early 1980s until he suffered serious leg injuries in an accident at Brands Hatch. Viso is not the only Venezuelan with F1 ambition at the moment as Pastor Maldonado, currently racing in the Renault World Series, is also keen to break into F1. The 20-year-old tested a Minardi back in 2004.